Photography in Portugal

Introduction

The perfect location for a Frui photography holiday, Portugal is packed with picturesque locations as well as a delicious local cuisine and of course, plenty of wine.

Frui’s expert yet down-to-earth photography tutors will be there to guide you as you get to know the location through creativity. Portugal certainly isn’t short of subject matter. From ancient and colourful streets of Lisbon to fairytale castles hidden amongst the forest on Europe’s westernmost point, you’re sure to find inspiration for some stunning imagery.

On this trip we'll not just be sticking to the city of Lisbon itself, we'll also get the chance explore some of the beautiful countryside that surrounds it including Évora, The UNESCO world heritage city, one hour inland.

Why photograph Here?

Lisbon and the surrounded area is full of amazing scenery. We'll start in the city’s oldest district, Alfama, boasting buildings with perfect pops of colour, street life and street art. It’s a wonderful area to get lost and explore a typical Portuguese neighbourhood- with camera in hand of course

From the tops of the city’s hills we’ll take in stunning views over the rooftops, rivers and the rugged Atlantic coastline. We’ll also visit Europe’s most westerly point; Sintra. The pastel-hued palaces here are a hodgepodge of architectural styles that look like they’re straight from a fairytale.

Photographing the pastel-hued palaces of Sintra and the wild Atlantic coastline.

Photographing the pastel-hued palaces of Sintra and the wild Atlantic coastline.

What makes this trip special

As well Lisbon and Sintra, we’ll be heading to the beautifully preserved medieval town of Évora. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora’s narrow and winding lanes lead to striking architectural sights: an elaborate medieval cathedral covered in human skulls, the cinematic columns of the Roman temples the picturesque town square.

Head inland to explore the Roman temple, whitewashed houses and skeleton-adorned Chapel of Bones in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Évora.

Head inland to explore the Roman temple, whitewashed houses and skeleton-adorned Chapel of Bones in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Évora.

Where you'll stay

Tings Lisbon

Stylish, comfortable and nicely decorated, Tings is located in a new and upcoming area of Lisbon with amazing views over the city from the beautiful garden terrace. Based on their successful hotel in Kathmandu Annette and Thomes have created a wonderful and restful space in a busy city. The hotel has excellent trip advisor reviews.

Tings Lisbon

Stylish, comfortable and nicely decorated, Tings is located in a new and upcoming area of Lisbon with amazing views over the city from the beautiful garden terrace. Based on their successful hotel in Kathmandu Annette and Thomes have created a wonderful and restful space in a busy city. The hotel has excellent trip advisor reviews.

Herdade da Maroteira

This property is filled with cork trees, olive groves and vineyards. With cabins facing the cork forest, the location is absolutely breathtaking. The rooms are elegantly decorated and the food and wine are to die for!

Herdade da Maroteira

This property is filled with cork trees, olive groves and vineyards. With cabins facing the cork forest, the location is absolutely breathtaking. The rooms are elegantly decorated and the food and wine are to die for!

Hotel Baia

This hotel is a 1-minute walk from the beach. Situated in the centre of Cascais, just 20 yards from Fishermans Beach, it also features an indoor rooftop pool and an outdoor terrace with panoramic ocean views.

Hotel Baia

This hotel is a 1-minute walk from the beach. Situated in the centre of Cascais, just 20 yards from Fishermans Beach, it also features an indoor rooftop pool and an outdoor terrace with panoramic ocean views.

Frui adopts a positive teaching approach, meaning our encouraging and supportive tutors focus on what you are doing right, not wrong.

No two tours are the same, and our small group sizes mean that we can tailor tuition to our guests so that whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll always learn new things. Our focus is strongly on the creative side of photography, so as well as introducing you to important camera settings, tutors will encourage you to develop what is individual about your photographic style and approach.

On this trip we’ll start most days with a sit-down lesson lasting around 30 minutes. Your tutor will be on hand throughout the day offering advice and tips when you need them and setting the occasional challenge. There will also be a couple of opportunities for one-to-one tutorials. Often in the evenings we’ll look at the best images from the day- a great way to learn from each other. Some of the things you will learn include:

Guidelines and ideas for composition

All about exposure – ISO, shutter speed and aperture and more advanced exposure techniques

One thing's for sure: on all Frui trips you can expect small groups of no more than ten people, your own en-suite room wherever possible with no single supplement, and a fun, sociable atmosphere. We also always aim to strike the best balance between comfort and off-the-beaten track locations, and divide our trips into three categories so that you can get an idea of how 'adventurous' they'll be.

This is a 'Relaxed' trip, so while it will be packed with activities, learning and local experiences, you won’t feel overly stretched. In fact you'll do nothing more strenuous than stroll around a hilltop village, or lift a glass to your lips.